Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee highlights cyanobacteria health risks and plans education with DES/CDC materials
Summary
Helen Tam‑Semmens urged the committee to rely on DES and CDC materials to inform residents about cyanobacteria risks to people and pets and to use referenced studies when recommending mitigation; members agreed to seek external speakers and share flyers.
Helen Tam‑Semmens told the Cyanobacteria Committee on March 13 that the group should focus both on alerting residents to the immediate dangers of cyanobacteria blooms and on educating the public about what cyanobacteria are and how to reduce blooms. She suggested deferring to materials from the DES and the CDC and to use referenced studies when making public statements so the committee’s outreach is backed by evidence.
Tam‑Semmens emphasized that cyanobacteria can affect dogs—potentially fatally—and recommended advising residents not to boat, swim or fish during blooms. She noted that inhalation exposure is possible and referenced ongoing studies that are investigating links between cyanobacteria and long‑term neurological issues such as ALS and Alzheimer’s disease; she recommended only sharing claims supported by citations.
Members discussed securing external presenters: Naomi Risch said she is waiting to hear from the DES cyanobacteria committee and an NH Lakes Association representative and noted that GLS will have a Lake Smart speaker to report on. The committee agreed to continue compiling vetted informational flyers and referenced materials for public distribution.
